LA-based electro/indie pop band Sleeptalk recently released their latest single “I Hope You’re Doing Well,” a melancholy breakup anthem that dropped on Valentine’s Day. After receiving a warm response and over 27K plays on Spotify in under two months, the band decided to record a stripped-down version of the track. In the bathed-in-blue music video, the band tinkers with synth pads and other light instrumentation, while giving the melody optimal space to breathe. Slow and steady is the approach here and it allows the devastating lyrics to really expose the loss that vocalist Anthony Fitzpatrick felt.
The stripped-down video comes just days before the band sets out on a West Coast tour with Michael Barr. As an extra treat for fans, Sleeptalk is giving away their debut full-length album Young by signing up HERE.
LINKS:
http://www.slptvlk.com
https://twitter.com/SLPTVLK
http://www.facebook.com/slptvlk
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Para Lia – My Muse
Para Lia has released their video for the track titled ‘My Muse’. That alt-rock raucousness that Para Lia is known for is back in spectacular form. ‘My Muse is an in-your-face monster hook with the teeth to bite. Grit is it and the Lia has enough to serve.
As of February 12, the ‘Gone With The Flow’ LP will be available on vinyl, CD, and digitally – via Bandcamp. It can also be found on Spotify and Apple Music. It can also be beautifully explored through the Para Lia / Louis Renzoni virtual exhibition HERE.
Check out our other Para Lia features HERE.
About Para Lia
Melodic alternative/indie rock duo Para Lia have announced the impending vinyl and CD release of their album ‘Gone With The Flow’ on February 12. The digital version was released on October 2, timed to sync with the anniversary of Germany reunification, a rather significant occasion for a band hailing from the Eastern part of a then-divided Germany.
Ahead of that, the band presented a joint virtual exhibition with artist Louis Renzoni and two invigorating singles – ‘My Muse’ and ‘Riders On The Dike’.
‘Gone With The Flow’ is the band’s second album and title of a new online mixed art exhibition. With 11 new tracks on offer, its core themes are the muse and the continual struggle with that relationship, explored amidst layers of sound and arrangements that continually swing from light to dark.
Originally from Falkenberg, Para Lia is an indie rock duo, now based in Cottbus (near Berlin). Influenced by the rhythms and tones of ‘90s alt-rock and the synth density of ‘80s darkwave, their own sound blends melodic guitars, along with distinctive lead guitar and resonant synths.
Comprised of René Methner (all instruments and vocals) and Cindy Methner (backing vocals), their band name was born of their love for Greece, with para lia, (παραλία) meaning “coast” or “beach” in Greek – a name full of mystery but optimism, which both has history and evokes a balance of the masculine and feminine.
Para Lia burst onto the underground music scene with their widely-praised debut album ‘Soap Bubble Dreams’ and ‘Hawk Hill’ EP in 2019, the band‘s music has to garner comparisons ranging from J Mascis, The Cure, Phillip Boa and the Voodoo Club and Arcade Fire to The Mission, The Last Shadow Puppets, Sebadoh and Editors.
Methner’s conversations with artist Louis Renzoni blossomed into not only a friendship but also a mixed art exhibition. Originally destined for a New York gallery until the global pandemic took hold, their collaborative virtual exhibition is a celebration of their work, the release of brand new music, complemented by Renzoni’s artwork. An immersive experience, each exhibit is fully interactive.
LINKS:
http://epk.paraliaofficial.com
https://www.facebook.com/paraliamusic
https://paralia.bandcamp.com -
Otis Mensah – Sanctified
Otis Mensah is “a young story-teller-rapper-poet with a talent for drawing the poetic from the everyday happenings in his life.” The alternative hip-hop artist has risen from a new wave; age and era, embodying a contemporary, poetic take on hip-hop music. The music he creates sheds light on existential commonalities discovered through introspection with often off-kilter lyrics, accompanied by a sentimental vibe.
As an emerging artist, Otis has been independently releasing music, booking shows and has played around the UK & Europe including his debut performance at Glastonbury Music Festival on the BBC Introducing stage. Otis has also played as support for the likes of Killah Priest, Open Mike Eagle, Brother Ali, Lowkey, Milo, Arrested Development, The Sugarhill Gang, P.O.S, Abstract Orchestra, The Mouse Outfit, iTCH (The King Blues), and The Skints.
‘Sanctified is the stirring new release from experimental hip-hop prodigy Otis Mensah. It speaks of his restless striving to convey his truth through artistic self-expression, tempered by the burden of self-doubt and depression. Drawing deeply on the spiritual imagery of his youth, Mensah describes his obsessive yearning to realize his own potential, and face down his demons ‘in the lunar light dancing by the river.’ Produced by Elijah Bane, with music visuals from GRIT multimedia, Sanctified sees Mensah shift up another gear on his continual quest to connect with his audience through his vulnerable and honest form of experimental hip-hop’ Pink Wafer.
As an artist he perseveres in, connecting to an audience that relates to his writing and shares a mutual interest for thought-provoking lyricism and expressionism.
LINKS:
https://otismensah.bandcamp.com
https://twitter.com/otismensah
https://www.instagram.com/otismensah
https://soundcloud.com/otismensah/oh-jane-prod-the-intern
https://www.facebook.com/itsOtisMensah -
Shriekback – And The Rain
Seminal British alternative rock outfit Shriekback has announced they will release their new album ‘Why Anything? Why This?’ on May 25. As a teaser, they are previewing the first single ‘And The Rain’, along with a darkly intriguing video filmed by Howard Davidson (a.k.a. Hodah).
Shriekback was formed in 1980 by ex-XTC keyboardist Barry Andrews and bassist Dave Allen on his departure from Gang Of Four, in collaboration with guitarist Carl Marsh from Out On Blue Six. Under the auspices of the visionary Y Records label (home to The Slits, The Pop Group and Pigbag), the group found their voice experimenting in EMI Music’s KPM demo studio in London, refining a uniquely recognizable sound in 1982 on their first full-length album ‘Care’ and eventually achieving wider recognition with the singles ‘Lined Up’ and ‘My Spine (Is The Bassline)’. In 1983, they were joined by drummer Martyn Barker (King Swamp, Billy Bragg).
A move to a major label, Arista, allowed the band to fully realize their sound on ‘Oil & Gold’(1985), a milestone album that remains the band’s best-known (helped by the success of the single ‘Nemesis’) and the foundation of their popularity on the US college circuit and elsewhere.
‘And The Rain’ is dark and infectious, conjuring up steamy, swampy, Southern Gothic blues.This 14th studio album, which boasts a wide, organic and detailed sound, is already being described by early listeners as their best since the landmark album ‘Oil & Gold’. The sound is dense, woody and fibrous. Here we find evolved Bo Diddley beats and African blues”. However you describe it, this is Shriekback refocused, reinvented and reinvigorated.
Band members have also pushed themselves musically and sonically – Barry contributes a lot of guitars, Carl has essayed some slide guitar and keyboards and Martyn has brought in a whole arsenal of world percussion alongside his drumkit. Regular Shriekback listeners will hear more guitars and live drums and fewer loops and electronics. The sonic palette is very broad.
Written, performed and produced almost exclusively by the core trio, this is very much a ‘band’ album, crafted over time with the three core members working in their own studios, as well as in group sessions at Yellow Fish and Echo Zoo studios to capture live drums. But the writing and production on this release have been much more collaborative, with Martyn, in particular, having more input than previously.
New collaborator Scott Firth (of P.i.L) adds irrefutable bass to selected tracks, while Shriekback regulars Wendy and Sarah Partridge contribute their ever-invaluable backing vocals. Live drums were recorded by Ian Caple (who’s been with Shriekback since the beginning) at Yellow Fish in Lewes and Christoph Skirl at Echo Zoo in Eastbourne. The album was mixed and mastered by Stuart Rowe in The Lighterthief Bunker, Swindon – his fifth Shriekback album in this role, an indication of the value placed on his objective ear and technical skill.
‘Why Anything? Why This?’ will be released on May 25, 2018. While fans should keep an eye out for the album via digital stores and streaming platforms, the album is already available for pre-order from the band directly at https://shriekback.com/store.
LINKS:
http://www.shriekback.com
http://www.facebook.com/shriekback
http://twitter.com/shriekbackmusic
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJMkzOIkm9sqOjch00BhHBg/videos
http://soundcloud.com/shriekbackband
http://open.spotify.com/artist/5zdhsKuFI263xttcgdoW3c?si=ygb7IlYKSASw5xefkBQfDA
http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/shriekback/85136
http://shriekbackmusic.tumblr.com